Members of the Runaway Train crew, winning first place in the Odyssey of the Mind contest, presented a program for the school board last week. Shown, from left, are Elyse Storlie, Carson Gerard, Hattie Sanness and Julia Halverson. Not shown are Reid Bjerke, Olaf Johnson and Jonah Udstuen. The Spring Grove depot and a train can be seen to the left. CRAIG MOORHEAD/SPRING GROVE HERALD

Tuesday, March 24, 2015 10:32 AM

Recent warmer weather has resulted in some savings for Spring Grove Public Schools, the directors were told last week during the regular school board meeting.

On Monday evening, March 16, the Spring Grove City Council voted 4-1 to restore funding for the Economic Development Authority in the amount of $27,000 per year. During the five years from 2009-13 (and earlier), the city funded the EDA at that level, but in 2014 the amount was slashed to $7,000. Last year, the organization ran a $13,069 deficit in its operating fund, which could have been depleted by July of 2015.

The Commission on Judicial Selection announced that a judgeship vacancy is occurring in Minnesota’s Third Judicial District Court. This vacancy was created upon the retirement of the Honorable James A. Fabian and will be chambered at Caledonia in Houston County.

“I'm here representing Allamakee County government,” Jack Knight told Houston County commissioners last week. “Our county officials are still concerned about potential traffic and trans-loading through Allamakee County as the result of active (frac sand) mining in Houston County.

The annual meeting of the Houston County Cattlemen Association was held Tuesday, March 10, at The Back 40 Supper Club, rural Caledonia, and included an evening meal and door prizes. Jerry Welke, president of the organization, conducted the business meeting.

Two community forums on the ongoing controversy over frac sand mining are planned for Houston County. “Voices from the Front Lines; The Continuing Effort against Frac Sand Mining in Houston County” will feature presentations that explain how and why frac sand mining should be prohibited in Houston County.

At times, the tension was high at the Spring Grove Elementary last week as teams of students collaborated to answer a question about a book. The audience of fellow classmates had to restrain themselves at times when they knew the answer that a team was struggling to find. It was an exciting time as the students participated in the highly anticipated annual Battle of the Books (B.O.B) tournament.

Even more auto services are now available in Spring Grove through the new business Affordable Auto Service located in the shop area of Solie Services. Business partners, Chris Ranzenberger and Mitch Myhre opened Affordable Auto Service in Spring Grove in mid-January and business has kept them hopping ever since.

The results of a 2014 investigation into the actions of Houston County zoning administrator Bob Scanlan have been released. The Spring Grove Herald received information pursuant to MN Statute 13.43 (personnel data) last week from Houston County personnel/facilities director Tess Arrick-Kruger.

After a review of their 2014 expenses and cost trends of the last few years, Spring Grove Township supervisors raised the 2016 tax levy by $10,995 during their annual meeting on Township Day, Tuesday, March 10, at the Spring Grove Town Hall.

Nine citizens spoke during the “public comment” session of the Houston County Board meeting on Tuesday, March 10. None of them expressed support for the introduction of frac sand mining to the county, and three filed ethics complaints against a county employee over mining issues.

Black Hammer Township held its annual meeting on March 10, with elections for two unopposed positions on the ballot. Treasurer David Skauge and a new candidate for township supervisor, Dan Wiste, were both elected by unanimous vote — with only eight ballots cast.

Major League Soccer announced that Minnesota will be the home of a new Major League Soccer team. The owners also announced they want to build a new open-air stadium for the team. Do you think it should be funded through public subsidies or privately funded?